White Supremacy in Heels

"It is the type of behavior that rests under the guise of feminism only as long as it is comfortable, only as long it is personally rewarding, only as long as it keeps "on brand." But if the history of this movement taught us anything, it is that intersectionality in feminism is vital. We cannot forget the ways that suffragettes dismissed the voices of black women, sending them to the backs of their marches, only for black activists like Ida B. Wells and Anna Julia Cooper to make major moves while fighting for the vote in tandem with their fight for rights as black people—ultimately shifting the shape of this country. If there is not the intentional and action-based inclusion of women of color, then feminism is simply white supremacy in heels."

Comments (5)

WOC have been saying this for decades. I was raised by feminists (mother and father) but being POC, their brand of feminism looked very different than mainstream feminism.

From your article this exemplifies why mainstream feminism is harmful to POC:

"Instead of sharing in the outrage of Nia’s brutal murder, they came with fury for being tagged in a post that they felt challenged their own perceived feminist accomplishments. There were grand displays of defensiveness, demands that they be acknowledged for all the things they had done for black people in the past,and a terrifying lashing out that included racial slurs and doxing.

The fragility of these women was not a surprise to me. In a crucial moment of showing up for our marginalized community, there was more concern about their feelings and ego as opposed to the fight forward for women as a whole. What could have been a much-needed and integral display of solidarity and true intersectionality quickly became a live play-by-play of the toxicity that white-centered feminism can bring to the table of activism."

'So what does allyship actually look like? Accepting the reality of this country's dynamics. White skin yields white privilege and an ally is willing to use their privilege to fight with and for those who are marginalized. Allyship means voting for elected officials who have a track record of ensuring the most marginalized among us are heard and advocated for. Allyship means using your sphere of influence whether it be your dining room table or the boardroom of your company to call out racist actions and ideals. Allyship means uplifting the voices and experiences of people of color so that we are not continuously drowned out and ignored."

I started following Rachel on Instagram right before she posted about Nia. I witnessed the unfortunate and gross reactions by some white feminists when called to acknowledge Nia’s brutal death by a white man. It went down like a train wreck, so awful to see the shit a particular account (and her followers) posted. I don’t even want to acknowledge this person and her account as I feel so disgusted by her and her lashing out against Rachel.

Cargle is pretty badass and unapologetic about her work. And I agree, every white woman needs to read this article and unpack the points made about Toxic White Feminism.

That's a great article. People generally don't react well when they are called out, unless they have specifically been taught not to be defensive and jerky. I think that is just kind of how people (especially white people) have been "taught" to react in our culture. Someone gives them constructive criticism, even extremely tone policed criticism and they either mentally or out loud come up with 100 reasons why it isn't valid. Why white people feel they need to engage in this defense mechanism is another topic for another time, but it is extremely widespread.

This isn't limited to any specific group, but when it comes to white people receiving this feedback from minorities about racism it is a particularly toxic dynamic.

I really think that this article and others like it are a big part of the solution. Teaching white women (and white men) that when you are called out for not being a good enough ally to a group to sit back, apologize and take it in before you respond. And always be grateful they took the time to offer you their wisdom. It would have been easier for that person to let you keep sucking. That's not an automatic reaction for most at the moment, so it's definitely something that needs to get embedded in our culture with repetition, and us teaching our children not to engage in toxic denial of people's lived experiences.

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*Unnecessarily jerky*

Sarcasm is lost on me anymore. I can't spot fake ridiculousness in a sea of ridiculousness.- gwenceles

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